Drop-Side Cribs Sold at JC Penney Recalled

About 11,400 <"https://www.yourlawyer.com/practice_areas/product_liability">Alexander Designs Ltd. Brand Drop-Side Cribs, which were sold exclusively at JCPenney, have been recalled for repair due to entrapment, suffocation, and fall hazards, the US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) just announced. The CPSC is advising consumers to immediately stop using the recalled drop-side cribs and notes that it is illegal to resell or to attempt to resell a recalled consumer product.

The Alexander Designs Ltd. Brand Drop-Side Cribs were manufactured in China by Jardine Enterprises Ltd., of Taipei, Taiwan and were distributed by J.C. Penney, of Plano, Texas and sold via JCPenney printed catalogs and online at JCPenney.com from March 2003 through April 2007 for about $200.

The drop-side rail hardware on the cribs can break or fail, allowing the drop-side to detach from the crib. When the drop-side detaches, a hazardous gap is created between the drop-side rail and the crib mattress in which infants and toddlers can become wedged or entrapped, posing risks of suffocation and strangulation. In addition, children can fall out of the crib when the drop-side rail falls unexpectedly or detaches from the crib. Drop-side rail failures also can occur due to incorrect assembly or with age-related wear and tear.

Other models of Jardine drop-side cribs were recalled for repair on June 24, 2010. That recalled notice can be accessed at: http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml10/10275.html

CPSC has received two reports of incidents involving drop-side malfunctions on Alexander Designs drop-side cribs. In one incident, which involved a crib that had been misassembled, the plastic hardware broke and the drop-side rail fell unexpectedly. In a second incident, a hardware failure caused the drop-side rail to detach from the crib. No injuries were reported.

This recall involves full-size cribs sold under the Alexander Designs brand name. “Alexander Designs Ltd.” and the JCPenney catalog/item number are printed on a label on the crib’s headboard. The following models are included:

• Alexander 3-in-1 Crib: JCPenney item number 343-8359 in honey pine; 343-8359 in white.
• Alexander Classic Crib: JCPenney item number 343-8180 in cherry, 343-8180 in honey pine, and 343-8180 in white.
• Alexander Sleigh Crib: JCPenney item number 343-8802 in cherry; 343-8802 in white.

The CPSC is advising consumers to immediately stop using the cribs and obtain a free repair kit that will immobilize the drop-side rail. In the meantime, parents are urged to find an alternate, safe sleeping environment for the child, such as a bassinet, play yard, or toddler bed, depending on the child’s age. Jardine can be reached any time, toll-free, at (800) 295-1980 or at the firm’s website at http://www.jdservice.biz/jcp-safety-notice.

CPSC reminds parents not to use any crib with missing, broken, or loose parts. Make sure to tighten hardware from time to time to keep the crib sturdy. When using a drop-side crib, parents should check to make sure the drop side or any other moving part operates smoothly. Always check all sides and corners of the crib for parts separating. Disengagements can create a gap and entrap a child. Do not try to repair any side of the crib.

Babies have died in cribs in which repairs were attempted by caregivers. Crib age is a factor in safety. At a minimum, CPSC staff recommends that you not use a crib that is older than 10 years; many older cribs may not meet current voluntary standards and can have numerous safety problems.